Vehicle-axle



(No Model.) 7 y J, L. GILMORE,

VEHICLE AXLE.

' No. 375,548. Patented Dec.Z7, 1887.

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wrm mfi: INVENTOR:

7 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES LTGILMORE, OF ZOAR, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO B. E. TURNER, OF STATESBOROUGH, GEORGIA.

VEHICLE-AXLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 375,548, dated December 2'7, 1887.

Application filed June 6, 1887.

To all whom it 10mg concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES L. GILMORE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Zoar, inthe county of Bulloch and State of Georgia, have invented a new and useful Vehicle-Axle; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to vehicle-axles, and has for its object'an improvement in the construction with a view to making them substantial, easily repaired by interchangeable parts, and convenient to oil; and it consists of an axle-tree having an oil-chamber running through it and spindles having acommunieating oil-chamber and means of attachment to the axle-tree, the particulars of which will be hereinafter fully described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of one end of the central part of the axle, showing the oil-chamber and the preferred form of construction. Fig. 2 is a side view, partly in central vertical section,

of one end of an axle, the axle-box, and hub,

showing the means by which the bearing'is oiled and the construction of the axle.

One end only of the axle is shown and will be described in the following specification, as both ends are alike in all particulars.

In the figures, like reference-marks referring to like parts, A is the axle-tree, which is composed of the two parts marked a. Each of the parts a has on its side a groove of any form, but preferably semicircular, to form, when placed and fastened together by rivets or bolts r, as shown,the oil-chamber O. The necessary parts of the vehicle may be attached to the axle in any approved way; but the spindle S is attached by means of two flanges, f and f, and the bolts b. erably'screwed, on the end of the central part, A, and the flange f is fastened in a similar way to the spindle S, and the two flanges are bolted together by the bolts b. The spindle The flange f is fastened, pref- Serial No. 240,482. (No model.)

has a hole, 0, lengthwise through it, which hole is a continuation of the oil-chamber. in the axle, and is stopped by the plug 0 in the outer end. There is a hole, H, in the top of the axle, through which the oil is put into the chamber, and the holes hin the spindle,through which it is discharged to lubricate the bearing of the axle-box B. The interior of the axlebox conforms to the exterior of the spindle, and has on its larger end a cylindrical flange, c, as a prevention against the entering of dust. The wheel is shown in Fig. 1 as being fastened on by a nut, N, at the outer end; but it may be fastened on by any approved means, either at the outer or inner end of the hub. Whatever fastening may be used, it is only essential that it shall be secure, as it is not necessary to remove the wheel to oil the bearlng.

The oil, being put in the chamber through the hole H, which hole should afterward be plugged, will circulate through the axle and into the spindles and be discharged as needed into the bearings of the axle-box. The under side of the spindle will, if not in that condition when new, soon conform exactly to the circle of the axle-box, by reason of which no oil will be discharged while the vehicle is standing, but will be gradually worked out by the motion of the wheel on the axle when running, which is the only time that a lubricant is needed, and consequently the holes h, if

properly proportioned, will work out a quantity of oil that will be in proportion to the requirement.

The breaking or wearing out of a spindle as heretofore constructed is often the source of a great deal of annoyance and expense, which is, as far as is possible, obviated by this device, as a spindle can be removed with a wrench and be repaired and replaced, or be replaced by a new one in a very short time, and without disarranging any of the other parts of the vehicle.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

In a vehicle-axle, the tubular body forming an oil-chamber with an extension of less diameter into the spindle and communicating by In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in radial orifices with the external surface of presence of two witnesses. sai spindle, in combination with fian es secured to said body and spindle, as show n and JAMES GILMORE 5 described, the bolts uniting said flanges, and \Vitnesses:

the axle-box, all arranged and operating sub- 0. R. LARETON, stantially as and for the purpose specified. B. E. TURNER. 

